Lopez v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS (Filed: October 27, 2016) No. 12-729V UNPUBLISHED * * * * * * * * * * * * * KEVIN MANCILLA LOPEZ, * Decision on Joint Stipulation; * Acute Disseminated * Encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”); Petitioner, * Guillain-Barre Syndrome * (“GBS”); Hepatitis B; v. * Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular * Pertussis (“TDaP”); SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Inactivated polio (“IPV”); AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Measles-mumps-rubella * (“MMR”); Hepatitis A; Respondent. * Human papilloma virus * (“HPV”) * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mark L. Krueger, Krueger & Hernandez, Baraboo, WI, for petitioner. Julia W. McInerny, US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 Roth, Special Master: On October 26, 2012, Kevin Mancilla Lopez [“petitioner”] filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that he developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) and/or Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis 1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), a party has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other information, that satisfies the criteria in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B). Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a motion for redaction must include a proposed redacted decision. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within the requirements of that provision, I will delete such material from public access. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). 1 (“ADEM”) as a result of receiving a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“TDaP”), hepatitis B, inactivated polio (“IPV”), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), hepatitis A, and human papilloma virus (“HPV”) vaccines on January 7, 2011. See Stipulation, filed October 27, 2016, at ¶¶ 1-4 [ECF No. 59]. Respondent denies that any of the above immunizations caused petitioner’s injury. Stipulation at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On October 27, 2016, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms. Respondent agrees to issue the following payment: (1) A lump sum of $1,230,510.37, representing compensation for first year life care expenses ($172,844.07), lost earnings ($728,776.59), pain and suffering ($245,00.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($83,889.71), in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Kevin Mancilla Lopez; (2) A lump sum of $20,712.20, representing reimbursement of a lien for vaccine- related services rendered on behalf of petitioner, in the form of check payable jointly to petitioner and California Department of Health Care Services Recovery Branch – MS 4720 P.O. Box 997421 Sacramento, CA 95899-7421 Attn: Class Action Unit DHCS Account No.: C94758194F-VAC03 (3) An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in paragraph 10 of the Stipulation, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be purchased. I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein. The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ Mindy Michaels Roth Mindy Michaels Roth Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2 C Case 1:12-vv-00729-UNJ Document 59 Filed 10/27/16 Page 6 of 9 Case 1:12-vv-00729-UNJ Document 59 Filed 10/27/16 Page 9 of 9